The Wigley Group Welcomes New Tenant to Hillmorton Locks

A company specialising in the detection and mapping of intricate networks of underground pipes and cables for high-profile projects such as HS2 has set up a new head office in Rugby, Warwickshire.

Utility Mapping is now operating throughout the UK and beyond from The Craft Studios at Hillmorton Locks, a thriving business centre owned by The Wigley Group, a leading property and development company based at nearby Stockton.

The company uses the latest available technology to provide its utility locating and mapping services to the utilities, construction, design and engineering industries.

Its expert surveys enable projects of any size to be planned, designed and managed efficiently, and avoid the risk of accidents and disruption associated with utility strikes which are estimated to cost the UK economy £1.2 billion.

Utility Mapping was established in the UK just over a year ago and from its new base, plans to emulate the success of its sister company in Australia which has expanded into four of the six states and operates a team of more than 40 surveyors since being founded in 2015.

The team in the UK is being led by operations director Paul Lilley and survey director Damian Taylor, who together have some 50 years of experience in the utility surveying industry.

As well as working on large-scale schemes in the UK, the company has also carried out work in mainland Europe and as far afield as Ghana.

Damian said: “We predominantly operate in the UK and the majority of our work is site-based, so Rugby is the ideal location for our headquarters with it being so central and close to the region’s motorway network.

“Hillmorton Locks is a beautiful spot to work out of as it is next to the Oxford Canal and the range of units gives us the potential to take on more space with our plans to grow the business and expand our team.”

The Craft Studios, located off Brindley Road in Hillmorton, is made up of 11 units, ranging from 225 to 1,700 sq ft, and is home to a broad mix of small and starter businesses.

Louis Smith, head of estates at The Wigley Group, said: “We are delighted to welcome Utility Mapping to The Craft Studios which is currently home to six businesses.

“It is a thriving business centre in a picturesque location and ideally suited for start-ups and smaller enterprises, offering the potential for them to expand into larger premises on site.

“We are keen to help growing businesses and can be flexible in accommodating their needs. We currently have a number of units available with the ability to combine some to create larger space.”

Damian Taylor, survey director at Utility Mapping, is pictured far right at The Craft Studios at Hillmorton Locks with, from left to right, Louis Smith, head of estates at The Wigley Group, and Ben Martin, estates assistant at The Wigley Group.